Outreach Activities
OPI Training. March 26-29, 2009
On March 26-29, 2009, the ALIF program hosted an Oral Proficiency Interview(OPI) training for nine Arabic teachers from all over the USA. Dr. Mahdi Alosh, Associate Dean for International Affairs at the United States Military Academy, conducted the training.
Outreach at Central States Conference in Chicago. March 20-21, 2009
On March 20-21, 2009, the ALIF program had a booth at the Central States Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. Many people expressed their interest in the program and three states signed up to implement the new high school Arabic curriculum developed by the ALIF program at MSU in conjunction with Dearborn Public Schools.
ALIF outreach at Detroit Area Reception. March 7, 2009
On March 7, 2009, Dr. Wafa Hassan visited the MSU admission reception for students admitted from the Detroit area. It was held in the MotorCity Casino. The MSU flagship program had a table with information about the ALIF program and one of our ALIF scholars presented about the ALIF program. Many students expressed their interest in the program and stopped by the ALIF table.
Training and Recruitment in Chicago. February 12-13, 2009
On February 12-13, 2009, Dr. Wafa Hassan visited three high schools in Chicago to give a presentation about the MSU flagship program and to talk with administrators and counselors. Many students attended the presentation. Dr. Wafa also did teacher training about the new high school Arabic curriculum and ten schools signed up to implement it.
Workshop for OneWorld Now. November 12 & 13, 2008
On November 12 & 13, 2008, Dr. Wafa Hassan gave a workshop to the OneWorld Now organization which is an intensive global leadership program for underserved high school students which focuses on world language study. The training focused on using the new high school Arabic curriculum developed by the MSU flagship program in conjunction with Dearborn Public schools.
Action Research Meeting: K-12 Arabic Learning and Teaching
On Saturday, November 15th, 2008, the ALIF program hosted an Action Research Meeting Conference on K-12 Arabic Learning and Teaching at the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center at MSU. More than thirty Arabic Language teachers and professionals from all over the United States attended to discuss the needs and challenges of teaching Arabic and how to stimulate research in the K-12 Arabic teaching community. During the morning, participants listened to presentations on action research methodology and research needs in the field of K-12 Arabic instruction. During the afternoon, participants had the opportunity to separate into interest groups and develop an agenda of active research topics.
STARTALK Arabic Language Teacher Training Program: July 21-August 8, 2008
Teacher training workshop in Chicago. March 20 - 21, 2008
On March 20-21st, Dr. Wafa Hassan held a teacher training workshop for three teachers of Arabic in three public schools in Chicago. The main goal of this workshop was to help teachers start developing their own curriculum based on he IL standards and the National Arabic Learning Standards.
ALIF outreach at Detroit Area Reception. March 1, 2008
Dr. Wafa Hassan also attended this event to welcome the incoming students and to answer any questions that they may have about the MSU ALIF program. Many students showed interest in the program and asked for more information.
STARTALK program enriches classroom libraries with new Arabic books. February 9, 2008
Dr. Wafa Hassan conducted a teacher workshop on February 9, 2008 as part of the STARTALK language program for a number of Arabic language teachers in Michigan and other bordering states. The STARTALK program provided these teachers with the Scholastic Arabic library, grades one through six, with the objective of helping teachers start an Arabic library in their classrooms.
The workshop activities provided teachers with strategies and ideas on how to build their Arabic language classroom libraries and how to use the library books to enhance their Arabic language curriculum.
Dr. Hassan is hopeful that through these STARTALK program activities teachers will be able to integrate thematic units into Arabic language teaching, to develop an interactive approach to language pedagogy, and to teach different language skills in a holistic, meaningful manner that will lead to long-term retention and to successful Arabic language learning.
Furthermore, the students in the Arabic language classrooms will have access to a full library of Arabic books, which will increase their interest in reading more materials in Arabic and which will eventually lead to increased proficiency in the Arabic language.
An additional goal of this program is to build a network of teachers who can form an on-line professional development group where they can share their lesson plans and give each other feedback.
